Sex-crime fugitive found under bed

HOBBS, N.M. (KRQE) - A Texas fugitive wanted for sexually assaulting a young child was arrested Thursday night in New Mexico.

Charles Thompson was hiding out in a piece of furniture, and police say he and his girlfriend thought they had officers fooled.

What started Thursday as a suspicious sale in a Hobbs parking lot ended in the arrest of a fugitive.

"One of our detectives received some information that a female was in the parking lot of a bar here in Hobbs and was trying to sell some musical equipment, a guitar and amplifier," Officer Mike Stone said.

The detective arrived to check it out and saw the woman loading a guitar she couldn't sell into a vehicle and stopped her. A database search to see if the items were stolen came up negative.

The woman told the detective a man who lives on South Fowler promised to give her gas money if she sold them for him. Familiar with the home, the detective asked if Thompson, 41, was there.

Hobbs police knew Thompson was wanted in Texas for continuous sexual abuse of a child and two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child and had been checking the house for him.

"Officers have been here several times looking for this individual," Stone said.

When officers went to the home Thursday, they spoke with Thompson's girlfriend, Dawn Gwynne, 38.

"She let the officers in; she actually stated that you won't find anybody in here," said Stone.

Gwynne told police they could search her house all they wanted because Thompson wasn't there. Despite Gwynne's insistence officers weren't going to find him, officers did find Thompson.

He was hiding in a secret compartment under the bed.

Thompson was arrested along with Gwynne. She's charged with harboring a felon.

Stone said this bust is an example of the detective's diligence.

"In a situation like that, an officer just has a gut feeling," he continued.  "A lot of times due to their experience that something either isn't right or that they could question the individual and get more information that maybe leads to something else.

"And that's what happened in this case."

The warrant for Thompson was issued out of Odessa, Texas, in October. Stone said Thompson will likely be extradited to Texas after he appears in court in Hobbs for being a fugitive.